BREAKING NEWS | FICTION | SATIRE
Breaking News: New Boost for Fiction on Medium
An open letter to Coach Tony
Tuesday, 28 February 2023, somewhere on Medium. Medium’s CEO Tony Stubblebine announced a new boost feature a few days ago. The fiction community on Medium is holding its breath in anticipation, not knowing if fiction will benefit from the new boost.
Medium writer May More 💜 Tales summarised many fiction writers’ worries nicely, “[…] when I read the latest Medium distribution/boosting guidelines my heart sank a little, as I could not see any way that fiction will be supported as much as ideas/information posts, by the latest rules.”
That’s how one of my snappy, satirical “Breaking News” usually starts. Today is unique, though. I will not express a satirical opinion but analyse Medium’s guidelines on what factors justify boosting a story and argue my case on why fiction is worthy of a boost. We shall look at them in Medium’s preferred order.
Story Contents
Is it Constructive?
The reader feels that they’ve leveled up in some way by reading the story. They’ve taken something away from the story that will help them do their job better, adopt a new skill, navigate their relationships with greater ease, help them better understand issues of the day, reconsider past perspectives, or elicit a real laugh or emotion. [Emphasis added by the author]
Arguably, there is little that can arouse emotion better than works of fiction. I, for example, am not a fan of romantic movies, especially many romantic comedies, but I cannot deny that I smiled and felt like dancing when I watched a Bollywood movie for the first time.
The same is true for literary fiction. I have shared Frodo’s anguish as he crawled up Mount Doom, and loved and loathed Carrie. Even when she gave in to her anger and sorrow, I could not dismiss and judge her. When I read the book, her experience was mine, although, luckily, not as gruesome.
Often the best non-fiction includes elements or the techniques of fiction. That’s one of the reasons why storytelling is so prevalent in image texts, social media and public relations. Fiction can be just as thought-provoking as non-fiction, prompting you to learn and level up. That is likely what Siegmund Freud meant when he said, “Everywhere I go I find a poet has been there before me.”
Before I go on without end, let me finish this section with the words of A B Guthrie Jr, “Fiction is love and hate and agreement and conflict and common adventure, not lonely musings on have-beens and might-have-beens.”
Is it Original?
The story is original in that it explores something previously unknown or not frequently examined, or it re-examines something we think we know a lot about to shed new light, voice, or perspective on the topic. (The story does not need to be originally published on Medium.) [Emphesis added by the author]
Roald Dahl once said he felt utterly drained after two hours of writing fiction because he spent that time in a different place with different people.
Fiction is not just about making stuff up but is usually a product of its time and concerned with that era’s questions and struggles, prompting Richard Hughes to conclude, “All that non-fiction can do is answer questions. It’s fiction’s business to ask them.”
There are many unpopular answers and even more reasons why people are reluctant to provide them. Still, I agree “that in fiction the author can really tell the truth without humiliating himself” (Jim Rohn).
The answers might not always be obvious, but they are there to see and ponder upon often long after you put the book down. In the end, fiction is as much about people as non-fiction. Possibly, more so.
Author’s Credentials
Does the author speak from Relevant Experience?
The author clearly has credible, first-hand experience of this subject, and they care deeply about communicating it effectively. That may be because they’re a subject matter expert or because of their lived experience. It may be because the writer has done thorough research. Either way, there’s a clear and compelling reason why they’re writing about this particular topic and their insights reflect relevant experience. [Emphasis added by the author]
I find many similarities to the first criterion of a story’s constructiveness. Fiction does not come out of the blue. Maybe you wake up in the morning with an idea for a story or a novel’s chapter, but these ideas are inspired not only by what you read before but by life itself.
Take what I wrote about reading Carrie earlier, and then read — if you like — the second chapter of my developing novel, “Stormborn — The Legend of the Storm Maiden,” and believe me that it is based on relevant, lived experience.
Sir Winston Churchill described it like this, “Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself believe.”
Fiction is not only entertainment. It is like the mystic art and science of alchemy, a combination of truth and imagination capable of producing something unexpected and new. Even alchemy was based on fundamental understandings of early chemistry.
Craftsmanship
Is the story Well-Crafted?
The quality of the writing is high. The story is well-written, free of errors, appropriately sourced, and narratively strong. The packaging, content, editorial choices, and central point of the post are clear and compelling. Ideally, the writer has worked to craft an interesting, non-gimmicky title; chosen an image that adds value to the story; and properly formatted their title and subtitle.
Mark Twain said, “It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.” Fiction has to follow similar rules to be compelling to readers. Most of the latter roll their eyes when a bloated dialogue drags over 12 pages.
At the same time, these rules are a product of their time as much as the content. When modern readers complain that Tolkien’s writing is too descriptive, they often miss a crucial point. If you do not know what a pine tree looks like, you can ask Google to show you a picture. Tolkien’s original readers did not have that luxury. They relied on Tolkien to show them a pine tree.
Although the rules are sometimes different for fiction and non-fiction, tone, pace, structure and underlying questions asked are just as important in fiction writing.
Does it feel Memorable?
The best stories are the ones you’re still thinking about days later. Are you compelled to share this with your network? Did this story get you thinking? Move you? Make you feel good about the value of your Medium subscription? [Emphasis added by the author]
I struggle to hold back famous writers’ quotes, so let’s go for this one by Clive James: “Fiction is life with the dull bits left out.” What could be more memorable than exciting lives? Fiction offers us the opportunity to live multiple lives. Usually, they are all memorable; otherwise, we would have put the book down or returned it to Medium’s landing page.
I want to share a few memorable stories with you if you like to read them. You will find my selection at the end.
Conclusion
The struggle of the fiction community isn’t new. One of the earliest lessons I learned as a fiction writer on this platform was that I didn’t need a niche because I was already treated like one. At least, that’s how it feels to many fiction writers.
At the beginning of February, Smillew Rahcuef asked the Medium community if we would like to challenge Coach Tony. I do! Tony, your mission — if you choose to accept it — please, read one of my friends’ stories (all if you like) and give it a boost.
Finally, here’s the breaking news for all you fiction writers out there, supporting each other is the best boost. Share the stories you like and can’t forget. Tag them in your stories, write a review about them, and share them on Twitter.
Thanks!
The Fiction Line-Up
The People’s Republic of Dungeonville, a well-crafted story by JF Danskin. It is memorable for its ironic take on fantasy tropes.
Bradan Writes Stories helps us to understand The Terrifying Truth About Human Biology. A memorable and very original story that looks at humanity and all its weirdness from an alien perspective.
Where do imagination and creativity even come from? Kathy K answers that question in her memorable and imaginative Realm of Quarkopolis.
I love and loathe Shanice Lawton’s detective Dallas Harvey as much as Carrie. It is so memorable that it comes to my mind two weeks after reading the last part of Baby Burnett.
We all know sugar can be addictive. After reading C.A. Jaymes’ story, I developed a craving and regularly thought, Gimme Some Sugar.
Hidden in the open are the original and well-crafted works by an animation expert that many know for his support of fiction writing on Medium. When you dive into stories like Muscle Girl, you witness how David Perlmutter turns a TV cartoon into a piece of writing.
Are we at the point that my dear readers will beg me to stop this madness? If you want madness, despair and hope in an original South African cyberpunk setting, listen to Zane Dickens the Instigator’s Voice in the Darkness.
Sorry to all my friends not promoted here. This story has already turned into one of my longest so far. You know me as a community builder, and I will continue to tag and promote your stories regularly.
About The Kraken News — Writing Prompt by Bradan Writes Stories
💯 Story Challenge — News Edition (46/100)
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